Shining brightly on the legal landscape are four women grads: Ora Wexler, Law’07; Jennifer Thompson, Law’08; Kate Lahey Salter, Law’09; and Jessica Bishop, Law’12. Lexpert magazine has named them to its 2021 honour roll of “Rising Stars – Leading Lawyers Under 40.”
These high-achieving up-and-comers talk about their career satisfaction, law school experience, and advice for students and new lawyers.
Ora Wexler, Law’07
Partner, Dentons Canada LLP
Leader of both the corporate and securities groups at her firm’s Toronto office, Ora Wexler advises on public and private capital market transactions and securities regulatory matters. She has worked on numerous high profile domestic and cross-border transactions, was instrumental in launching Dentons’ “Going Public in Canada Resource Center,” and sits on her office’s Partner Compensation Committee and Inclusion and Diversity Committee. As a member of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) Securities Advisory Committee, she advises the OSC on legislative and policy initiatives, and capital markets trends. She is also a mentor and an advocate for inclusion, diversity and equity. She is also recognized in The Legal 500 Canada in Capital Markets, as well as Corporate and M&A.
What do you find most fulfilling in your career?
I help companies and investment banks in corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions. Being effective often involves finding creative solutions and innovative structures – which in turn requires you to have an understanding of the businesses and objectives of your clients as well as to be on the cutting edge of new developments and the latest market practice. The work environment is team-oriented, creating opportunities for close relationships to be formed; with clients, where you are an extension of their team and to whom you become a trusted advisor, and all other parties involved. Everyone is in it together. I spend my working days solving (and preventing) problems with people I enjoy working with.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
At Queen’s Law, I benefitted from the large array of business law-related classes as well as options for experiential learning. Participating in the Corporate and Securities Law Moot was also an invaluable experience. It provided me with the opportunity to work on a team, and refined my written, legal research and oral advocacy skills, including learning to articulate a position with precision and conviction. Our team was coached by a practicing lawyer whose teaching approach was transformative; not only did it introduce us to a different perspective, but it conveyed the importance of relationship-building and providing commercial advice to clients.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
(i) Follow your passion; (ii) act with integrity and professionalism; (iii) help others, including make others look good; and (iv) make time to pursue interests outside of work.
Jennifer Thompson, Law’08
Head, Osler Works-Disputes, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
An experienced commercial litigator and knowledge management lawyer, Jennifer Thompson leads an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, case managers, technical analysts and litigation law clerks to ensure a streamlined and efficient approach to discovery management and litigation support. With her team, she collaborates with clients and litigators at the beginning of each litigation matter to provide clients with customized discovery solutions designed strategically. She also sits on Osler’s Innovation Steering Committee and leads the Litigation Department’s ongoing assessment and development of legal technology and facilitates the education and training of litigators and clients on new developments.
What do you find most fulfilling in your work?
A large part of my job involves working with the latest and most innovative legal technology and the brilliant people who are working to create and implement that technology. I believe this integration of technology into the way we practice law is the future of the legal industry and find it very fulfilling to be at the forefront of this movement.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
At Queen’s Law I was exposed to a diverse group of minds. I not only learned a great deal from my professors, but from my peers. Working with these individuals prepared me for working in a large law firm where there is also a great variety and diversity of intellects and teamwork is extremely important.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
I would tell law students and new lawyers to approach the beginning of their legal career with a very open mind. It’s important early on to try and expose yourself to a large variety of work to help you understand what area of law you’re most interested in. Don’t restrict yourself to an area of law that you think you may be interested in early on – you could be surprised what actually inspires you, interests you, or keeps you motivated and fulfilled.
Kate Lahey Salter, Law’09
Senior Corporate Counsel, Ryerson University
At Ryerson University, Kate Lahey Salter acts as Senior Corporate Counsel for the university’s complex development projects and significant real estate transactions to facilitate campus expansion within Toronto’s confined downtown core. She also acts as lead counsel for innovative financial strategies aimed at preserving Ryerson’s long-term stability and is a trusted advisor for the university’s operational responses navigating the challenges of the pandemic.
What do you find most fulfilling in your work?
The most fulfilling part of my work is that I have leveraged my career as a development and real estate lawyer to support social and sustainability initiatives that are imperative to our community and our future. I have had the privilege of acting as lead counsel on large sustainable wind and solar energy projects; the redevelopment and revitalization of Regent Park and Alexandra Park in downtown Toronto to provide safe, secure, modern, and dignity-enhancing social housing in supportive and vibrant neighbourhoods; and the expansion of Ryerson University campus to increase its programmable space.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
Queen’s Law demanded excellence and I was surrounded by other high-achieving students. This motivated me to work harder than I ever had before and positioned me for a job at a top-tier full-service law firm, which opened many doors for me to pursue work that aligned with my core values. The professors at Queen’s inspired me in their lectures with the depth of their knowledge and commitment to the legal profession. I gained confidence to think on my feet while arriving to class, and now work, well prepared.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
If you care about social justice, get the very best grades you can and get hired at a full-service, large firm. The training you will receive there and the doors that will open will allow you to pursue whatever you want after you have established yourself with three to five years of practice. You will learn the most from these firms and will have job security so that you can take chances and pursue legal work in disadvantaged/underfunded fields. I offer the same advice to those who want to pursue a more traditional legal career. Starting at the very best firm you can get hired at will give you the training, experience, and credentials you need to make an informed decision about the kind of law you want to practice long term. Do not make your mind up before articles. Take all of your rotations in articles seriously and see what you really like and excel at.
Jessica Bishop, Law’12
Senior Associate, Goodmans LLP
In her corporate/commercial law practice, Jessica Bishop focuses on complex commercial technology transactions. She advises clients on technology procurement, licensing, product launches, outsourcing, payment systems, fintech, blockchain, cloud computing, internet of things (IoT), AI, e-commerce, and privacy compliance. Her clients include financial institutions, insurance companies, technology service providers, pension funds, government agencies and companies in the asset management, energy, and securities sectors. She has also been named an “Associate to Watch in Information Technology” by Chambers Canada and a “Rising Star in Technology” by The Legal 500 Canada.
What do you find most fulfilling in your career?
It is fulfilling to play a part in helping clients to solve complex and challenging problems each day. Practicing law also creates continuous opportunities to learn, not only about law, but about important challenges facing businesses and society. In my practice, learning about new technology and the regulation of new technology keeps my practice fulfilling and interesting.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
Aside from the excellent professors and support that the law school provided, which prepared me well for practice, I met many friends at law school and we continue to support each other as we progress through our careers. The environment at Queen’s encourages students to get to know each other and the relationships that you forge at law school, with professors and students, will last a lifetime and help you to navigate the many decisions that you will make in your career.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
Unless a student has a passion early on for one area of law, my advice is to try practising in different areas as a summer student and articling student to find an area that you truly enjoy and can see yourself enjoying over the long term.